Calothamnus robustus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Calothamnus robustus |
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| Calothamnus robustus at Cape Riche | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Calothamnus
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| Species: |
robustus
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| Synonyms | |
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Melaleuca robusta (Schauer) Craven & R.D.Edwards |
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Calothamnus robustus is a cool plant from the myrtle family, called Myrtaceae. It only grows in the southwest part of Western Australia, which means it's endemic to that area – you won't find it naturally anywhere else! This plant is a straight-growing bush with round leaves and small groups of red flowers that bloom in spring. After the flowers, it grows special fruits with two noticeable bumps.
What it Looks Like
Calothamnus robustus is a neat, upright bush that usually grows about 0.5–1.5 metres (1.6–4.9 ft) tall. Its leaves are shaped like tiny cylinders, but don't worry, they aren't prickly!
The flowers are bright red and grow in small bunches of 3 to 5. Unlike some other plants in its group, the flowers and fruits of Calothamnus robustus are never hidden inside thick, corky bark. Each flower has 4 sepals, which are like small, leaf-like parts that protect the bud. These sepals are very hairy on the outside.
There are also 4 petals, which are the colorful parts of the flower. The stamens, which are the parts that make pollen, are joined together in 4 narrow, claw-like bundles. All these bundles are about the same length. This plant usually flowers from September to November, but sometimes at other times of the year too. After flowering, it grows woody capsules, which are like seed pods. These fruit capsules have two clearly thick, rounded parts.
How it Got its Name
Calothamnus robustus was first officially described by a scientist named Johannes Schauer in 1843. He wrote about it in a book called Dissertatio phytographica de Regelia, Beaufortia et Calothamno. He studied a plant sample found near Mount Melville, close to Cape Riche.
The second part of its scientific name, robustus, is a Latin word. It means "hard and strong like oak," which probably describes how tough or sturdy the plant is.
Where it Grows
You can find Calothamnus robustus near Albany in a natural area called the Esperance Plains biogeographic region. It likes to grow in rocky soils that come from quartzite or granite. These are types of hard rocks.
Looking After it
The Western Australian government's department of parks and wildlife has given Calothamnus robustus a "Priority Three" classification. This means that we don't know a lot about this plant, and it's only found in a few places. However, it's not currently in immediate danger of disappearing.
